Working as a chauffeur
Discussion
Hi everyone,
Is there anyone on here currently working as a chauffeur?
I have just had an interview with a local firm and they are looking to book me in for some work but what I really need is a bit more insight into the job from people who are in the industry.
The jobs range from airport runs, weddings and stretch limo work.
I understand you will have some customers that will be hard to please no matter what you do, but are they the minority rather than the norm?
Thanks in advance.
Is there anyone on here currently working as a chauffeur?
I have just had an interview with a local firm and they are looking to book me in for some work but what I really need is a bit more insight into the job from people who are in the industry.
The jobs range from airport runs, weddings and stretch limo work.
I understand you will have some customers that will be hard to please no matter what you do, but are they the minority rather than the norm?
Thanks in advance.
330J said:
Hi everyone,
Is there anyone on here currently working as a chauffeur?
I have just had an interview with a local firm and they are looking to book me in for some work but what I really need is a bit more insight into the job from people who are in the industry.
The jobs range from airport runs, weddings and stretch limo work.
I understand you will have some customers that will be hard to please no matter what you do, but are they the minority rather than the norm?
Thanks in advance.
Assuming your driving skills are spot on, which they must be otherwise you wouldn't have been hired (IAM/RoSPA etc), then it's good old fashioned customer service (turn up early, immaculate car, immaculately dressed, spare large brolly etc) with a sprinkling of discretion (don't speak unless spoken too). Finally, make sure you are prepared for the worst and have plenty of back-up plans (getting lost, flat tyres, breakdowns etc, etc). Good luck!Is there anyone on here currently working as a chauffeur?
I have just had an interview with a local firm and they are looking to book me in for some work but what I really need is a bit more insight into the job from people who are in the industry.
The jobs range from airport runs, weddings and stretch limo work.
I understand you will have some customers that will be hard to please no matter what you do, but are they the minority rather than the norm?
Thanks in advance.
330J said:
Thanks for the reply rog007.
The biggest thing I have to weigh up is the knock on effect on my home life.
Going from your usual 8-6 Monday to Friday to suddenly busy at day/night/weekends, I'm not sure the rewards are there to take me away from my family during those hours.
Did you not think of this BEFORE the interview stage?The biggest thing I have to weigh up is the knock on effect on my home life.
Going from your usual 8-6 Monday to Friday to suddenly busy at day/night/weekends, I'm not sure the rewards are there to take me away from my family during those hours.
My Dad is a chauffeur and when work is coming in he quite enjoys it. If you like meeting different people from all different walks of life then it does seem to be a half decent way of making money.
If, as seems to be your position, you are getting given work through a company then it will be steadier and more frequent I would imagine.
As for the unsociable hours it depends on what their main work consists of. My Dad only really drives for business meetings (with the exception of family/friends weddings) so his work is actually within relatively sociable hours. There are occasionally times when he will be driving to the other end of the country, in which case he will be put up in a hotel and the pay for these long trips can be quite appealing as you are still paid on the thinking that your time is being taken up.
I think the best way to make some money out of the industry is to work for a company for long enough to gain some contacts and build yourself a bit of a reputation then it is a profession that lends itself to self-employment once you have got your name out there.
So as I see it the main positives are: the potential to make some relatively decent money, meeting a lot of interesting people and occasionally you get the chance to drive some client’s cars (if that’s what they want) and that can mean some nice metal. My Dad has had an S65, continental flying spur (this was the least well maintained and loved for car I have ever been in) and various nice petrol S class mercs and A8’s all for a few days at a time.
The only real negatives that my Dad seems to see are the waiting around. There is a lot of waiting around but I suppose you are effectively being paid to do not a lot so it isn’t too bad!
Good luck with the new job if you choose to go with it.
OP
If, as seems to be your position, you are getting given work through a company then it will be steadier and more frequent I would imagine.
As for the unsociable hours it depends on what their main work consists of. My Dad only really drives for business meetings (with the exception of family/friends weddings) so his work is actually within relatively sociable hours. There are occasionally times when he will be driving to the other end of the country, in which case he will be put up in a hotel and the pay for these long trips can be quite appealing as you are still paid on the thinking that your time is being taken up.
I think the best way to make some money out of the industry is to work for a company for long enough to gain some contacts and build yourself a bit of a reputation then it is a profession that lends itself to self-employment once you have got your name out there.
So as I see it the main positives are: the potential to make some relatively decent money, meeting a lot of interesting people and occasionally you get the chance to drive some client’s cars (if that’s what they want) and that can mean some nice metal. My Dad has had an S65, continental flying spur (this was the least well maintained and loved for car I have ever been in) and various nice petrol S class mercs and A8’s all for a few days at a time.
The only real negatives that my Dad seems to see are the waiting around. There is a lot of waiting around but I suppose you are effectively being paid to do not a lot so it isn’t too bad!
Good luck with the new job if you choose to go with it.
OP
Thanks for all the replies, especially OliPolo, that was exactly the type of response I was after.
The job was advertised as mainly corporate work so I expected some weekends but during the interview, a Saturday was described as, potentialy an airport run in the morning, a wedding in the afternoon followed by a limo shift in the evening.
Their drivers were expected to be available for whatever job was going rather than sticking to the corporate stuff.
We have agreed to a months trial to see how it goes!
The job was advertised as mainly corporate work so I expected some weekends but during the interview, a Saturday was described as, potentialy an airport run in the morning, a wedding in the afternoon followed by a limo shift in the evening.
Their drivers were expected to be available for whatever job was going rather than sticking to the corporate stuff.
We have agreed to a months trial to see how it goes!
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